Mechanism for opening/closing and supporting cover

ABSTRACT

In a two-shaft pivotal mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover of the invention, a second pivot shaft connecting a pivoting member and the cover projects integrally from one of a pivoting member and a connecting piece on the cover, and an attachment hole for supporting the second pivot shaft is formed in another of the pivoting member and the connecting piece, so that the pivoting member and connecting piece are pivotally connected. The pivot limiting portion is provided between the connecting piece and the pivoting member, and limits pivotal operation therebetween to a predetermined angular range. A first pivot shaft connecting the pivoting member and a receptacle projects integrally from one of the pivoting member and the receptacle, and an attachment hole supporting the first pivot shaft is formed in another of the pivoting member and the receptacle, so that the pivoting member and the receptacle are pivotally connected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover which is suitably used as a mechanism for opening and closing a cover which opens and closes an opening of a receptacle used in a vehicle such as a storage compartment, a cup holder or the like, and in particular, to a mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover which can facilitate attachment of a cover to a receptacle main body.

[0002] Conventionally, receptacles such as cup holders, storage compartments, and the like have been set at the center console or the like in a vehicle. A cover for opening and closing the opening of the receptacle is provided at the receptacle.

[0003] The cover provided at the receptacle is generally a cover in which one edge portion thereof is pivotally attached to one edge portion of a receptacle main body, such that the cover opens and closes in a flap-like manner. There is thus the need to free up an amount of space above the receptacle main body which corresponds to the locus of pivoting of the distal end of the cover, which pivoting accompanies the opening and closing of the cover. Further, there is the need to provide a space at one end side of the receptacle main body for the cover to be positioned at the time when the cover is in a completely open state with respect to the receptacle main body. Thus, it has not been easy to ensure the space for setting a conventional receptacle having a cover within a vehicle where space is limited.

[0004] In order to overcome this drawback, the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover which is illustrated in FIG. 5 has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 8-156698). As shown in FIG. 5, a pivoting member 2 is pivotally supported at a pivot shaft 11 which projects at an outer side surface of a receptacle main body 1. A guide hole 12, which is formed in a circular-arc shape along the locus of pivoting of the pivoting member 2, and a forked-off hole 13, which forks off outwardly from the guide hole 12, are formed in the side surface of the receptacle main body 1. A first slide shaft 31, which is provided at both side portions of a cover 3 (only one side portion is shown in FIG. 5), is inserted through the guide hole 12 from the inner side of the receptacle main body 1 and is pivotally attached to the pivoting member 2. Further, at both side portions of the cover 3 (only one side portion is shown in FIG. 5), a second slide shaft 32, which is parallel to the first slide shaft 31, is inserted through the guide hole 12 from the inner side of the receptacle main body 1, and is inserted into a cut-in groove 21 formed in the pivoting member 2. The cover 3 is urged by a torsion spring s which is attached between the second slide shaft 32 and a projection 14 provided between the guide hole 12 and the pivot shaft 11.

[0005] Operations of opening and closing the cover 3 by the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover are as shown in FIGS. 6A through 6D.

[0006] In a closed state in which the opening of the receptacle main body 1 is closed by the cover 3, as shown in FIG. 6A, the first slide shaft 31 is positioned at one final end (the upper left end in the figure) of the guide hole 12, and the second slide shaft 32 is positioned at the distal end portion of the forked-off hole 13. In this state, the cover 3 is urged in the closing direction by the torsion spring s (not shown in the figures), such that the closed state is maintained.

[0007] When the cover 3 is pivoted from this closed state in the opening direction (toward the upper right in the figures) against the urging force of the torsion spring s, as shown in FIG. 6B, first, the cover 3 pivots around the first slide shaft 31, and the second slide shaft 32 enters into the guide hole 12 from the distal end portion of the forked-off hole 13. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the first slide shaft 31 and the second slide shaft 32 move within the guide hole 12 toward the other end side thereof (the lower right side in the figures), and therewith, the pivoting member 2 pivots around the pivot shaft 11, and the cover 3 pivots around the pivot shaft 11 in the direction of opening. As shown in FIG. 6D, when the second slide shaft 32 abuts the other final end of the guide hole 12, the limit of pivoting of the cover 3 is reached and the opening of the receptacle main body 1 is opened. In this case, at the time of the operations from FIGS. 6B through FIG. 6D, the urging force of the torsion spring s works in a direction of pivoting the cover 3 in the opening direction. Due to this urging force, the cover 3 pivots automatically, and is maintained in the completely open state shown in FIG. 6D.

[0008] Further, when the cover 3 is to be closed from the open state of FIG. 6D, by pivoting the cover 3 in the closing direction (toward the upper left in the figures) against the urging force of the torsion spring s, as shown in FIG. 6C, first, the first slide shaft 31 and the second slide shaft 32 move in the guide hole 12 toward the one end thereof, the pivoting member 2 pivots around the pivot shaft 11, and the cover 3 pivots around the pivot shaft 11. When the first slide shaft 31 reaches the one final end of the guide hole 12 as shown in FIG. 6B, as shown in FIG. 6A, the second slide shaft 32 enters into the forked-off hole 13 from the guide hole 12 and moves toward the distal end of the forked-off hole 13, and the cover 3 pivots around the first slide shaft 31 such that the opening of the receptacle main body 1 is closed. In this case, at the time of the operations from FIGS. 6B to FIG. 6A, the urging force of the torsion spring s is applied in the direction of pivoting the cover 3 in the closing direction. Due to this urging force, the cover 3 automatically pivots, and the closed state shown in FIG. 6A is maintained.

[0009] In this way, the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover is contrived such that, by using two shafts which are the first slide shaft 31 and the pivot shaft 11 as the pivot shafts for pivoting the cover 3, the space required for opening and closing the cover 3 is small, and the space for providing the receptacle within the vehicle can easily be ensured.

[0010] However, in this mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover, in order to carry out the operation of pivoting the cover 3 around the first slide shaft 31 and the pivot shaft 11 on a predetermined locus, the guide hole 12 must be formed in the side surface of the receptacle main body 1 and the second slide shaft 32 must be provided on the cover 3. Further, because of the structure in which the first and second slide shafts 31, 32 are formed separately from the cover 3, the number of structural parts is large and the operations for assembling the respective parts are complex.

[0011] Further, the operations for assembling the parts are complex. For example, after the first and second slide shafts 31, 32 provided at the cover have been inserted into the guide hole 12 from the inner side of the receptacle main body 1, the first and second slide shafts 31, 32 must be pivotally attached to the pivoting member 2, and the first and second slide shafts 31, 32 must be inserted into the cut-in groove 21 provided at the pivoting member 2 and the cover 3 must be assembled to the pivoting member 2.

[0012] Moreover, there is the need to reduce the operation load at the time of the opening and closing operations of cover 3, which load is due to the great friction generated between the second slide shaft 32 and the guide hole 12. Thus, grease for lubrication must be applied to the second slide shaft 32 or to the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 12 to reduce the frictional resistance therebetween. Thus, there is the problem that this makes the work for assembling the cover 3 to the receptacle main body 1 complex.

[0013] In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to facilitate the work for assembling a cover to a receptacle main body, in a two-shaft pivoting-type mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover which pivotally connects and supports a cover to a body-to-be-opened-and-closed such as a receptacle, and which is a two-shaft pivotable-type mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover in which a pivoting member is pivotally supported at the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, the cover is pivotally supported at the pivoting member, the pivoting member and the cover are pivoted around a first pivot shaft which connects the pivoting member and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, and the cover is pivoted with respect to the pivoting member around a second pivot shaft which is pivotally supported between the pivoting member and the cover, such that the cover is opened and closed, wherein the second pivot shaft projects integrally from one of the pivoting member and a connecting piece formed at the cover, an attachment hole which supports the second pivot shaft is formed in another of the pivoting member and the connecting piece, both members are pivotally connected, a pivoting limiting portion is provided between both members and limits pivoting operation of both members to a predetermined angular range, the first pivot shaft projects integrally from one of the pivoting member and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, an attachment hole which supports the first pivot shaft is formed in another of the pivoting member and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, and both members are pivotally connected.

[0015] In the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover, by pivoting the cover in the opening direction from the closed state in which the body-to-be-opened-and-closed is closed by the cover, the cover pivots around the second pivot shaft. When the cover is pivoted by a predetermined angle, the pivoting of the cover around the second pivot shaft is stopped due to operation of the pivoting limiting portion. Thereafter, the cover pivots together with the pivoting member around the first pivot shaft, and the top surface opening of the body-to-be-opened-and-closed is opened. By pivoting the cover in the closing direction from this open state, the cover, together with the pivoting member, pivots around the first pivot shaft. Thereafter, the cover separates from the first pivot shaft, pivots around the second pivot shaft, and closes the top surface opening of the body-to-be-opened-and-closed. By pivoting the cover around the first and second pivot shafts, the space required for the pivoting movement of the cover is small, and it is easy to ensure sufficient space for setting the body-to-be-opened-and-closed.

[0016] The assembling, by the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover, of the cover to the body-to-be-opened-and-closed is carried out as follows. The second pivot shaft, which projects integrally from one of the pivoting member and the connecting piece of the cover, is inserted through the attachment hole formed in the other of the pivoting member and the connecting piece, and the cover and the pivoting member are pivotally connected. The first pivot shaft, which projects integrally from one of the pivoting member and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, is inserted through the attachment hole formed in the other of the pivoting member and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, and the pivoting member and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed are pivotally connected. In this way, the cover is attached to the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, so as to be pivotable around the first and second pivot shafts.

[0017] The second pivot shaft projects integrally from one of the connecting piece of the cover and the pivoting member. The first pivot shaft projects integrally from one of the pivoting member and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed. Thus, there is no need for work for attaching the first and second pivot shafts to the respective members, and the work for attaching the members can be carried out easily.

[0018] Further, one of the second pivot shaft and the attachment hole may be provided at both side surfaces of the connecting piece of the cover, and another of the second pivot shaft and the attachment hole may be provided at a pair of plate-shaped bodies formed at the pivoting member, and one of the first pivot shaft and the attachment hole may be provided at the pivoting member, and another of the first pivot shaft and the attachment hole may be provided at a pair of wall portions formed at the body-to-be-opened-and-closed.

[0019] In accordance with this structure, the connecting piece of the cover is inserted between the pair of plate-shaped bodies of the pivoting member, the connecting piece is nipped from both side surfaces thereof by the plate-shaped bodies, and the second pivot shaft is inserted through the attachment hole. In this way, the pivoting member is pivotally attached to the cover so as to be pivotable around the second pivot shaft. Further, the pivoting member is inserted between the pair of wall portions of the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, and the first pivot shaft is inserted through the attachment hole. In this way, the pivoting member is pivotally attached to the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, so as to be pivotable around the first pivot shaft. Thus, by the simple operations of inserting one of the connecting piece of the cover and the pivoting member between the plate-shaped bodies which are provided at the other of the connecting piece of the cover and the pivoting member, and inserting the pivoting member between the pair of wall portions of the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, the cover can be pivotally attached to the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, so as to be pivotable around the first and second pivot shafts. Accordingly, the work for attaching the cover to the body-to-be-opened-and-closed can easily be carried out. In particular, in the case of a receptacle which is to be set at a place at which the setting work is difficult, such as the center console or the like in a vehicle, after the pivoting member is attached in advance to the cover, the pivoting member can be attached to the receptacle main body, and the work for setting the receptacle can be carried out easily.

[0020] Moreover, the pivoting limiting portion may limit pivoting operation of both members around the second pivot shaft to a predetermined angular range, due to respective portions of the cover and the pivoting member abutting one another.

[0021] In accordance with this structure, when the cover is pivoted by a predetermined angle around the second pivot shaft, a portion of the cover abuts a portion of the pivoting member. The pivoting of the cover around the second pivot shaft is thereby stopped. Thereafter, the cover, together with the pivoting member, pivots around the first pivot shaft. In this way, due to respective portions of the cover and the pivoting member abutting one another, the center of pivoting of the cover moves from the second pivot shaft to the first pivot shaft. Thus, even if the support shaft and the guide hole are not provided at the cover and the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, the cover pivots on a predetermined locus, and the number of structural parts can thereby be kept low.

[0022] Further, the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover may include an urging means structured so as to urge pivoting operation, of a predetermined angle or more, of the cover at times of opening and closing of the cover. In accordance with this structure, due to the urging force of the urging means, the position of the cover with respect to the body-to-be-opened-and-closed, in the open state and in the closed state, can be maintained, and rattling of the cover with respect to the body-to-be-opened-and-closed can be prevented. Moreover, after the cover has been pivoted the predetermined angle, the cover automatically pivots to the completely open or the completely closed state due to the urging force of the urging means. Thus, the operations of opening and closing the cover can be carried out easily.

[0023] Moreover, the first pivot shaft may be formed from a cylindrical body which has a short axis and which is formed so as to pivot while an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body slides along an inner peripheral surface of the attachment hole. In accordance with this structure, by making the diameter of the attachment hole large, the surface area of contact between the attachment hole and the first pivot shaft can be made to be large. The load applied to the first pivot shaft at the time of opening and closing the cover is received over a wide surface area, and breakage of the attachment hole and the first pivot shaft can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a receptacle at which a cover is attached to a receptacle main body by a mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover relating to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the receptacle;

[0026]FIGS. 3A through 3E are schematic side views showing operations of opening and closing the cover attached to the receptacle main body by the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover, and illustrate in order the operations from a completely closed state to a completely open state of the cover;

[0027]FIGS. 4A through 4C are views illustrating in order the operations at the time of attaching the cover to the receptacle main body by the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover;

[0028]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a receptacle at which a cover is attached to a receptacle main body by a conventional mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover; and

[0029]FIGS. 6A through 6D are schematic side views showing operations of opening and closing the cover attached to the receptacle main body by the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover of FIG. 5, and illustrate in order the operations from a completely closed state to a completely open state of the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in order to describe the present invention more concretely.

[0031]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a receptacle at which a cover 3 is attached to a receptacle main body 1 by a mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover relating to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover is formed by second pivot shafts 32 and slide shafts 33 which are formed at both transverse direction side portions of the receptacle main body 1 integrally with the cover 3, support shafts 31 projecting at both transverse direction side surfaces of a base end portion of the cover 3, arm members 51 which are pivotally supported by the second pivot shafts 32, pivot holes 11 at which the arm members 51 are pivotally supported, projections 12 projecting at both transverse direction side surfaces of the receptacle main body 1, support shaft guide holes 13 which are formed in both side surfaces of the receptacle main body 1 along loci of pivoting of the support shafts 31 which pivoting accompanies the pivoting movement of the cover 3 around first and second pivot shafts 52, 32, and torsion springs s urging the cover 3 in an opening direction and a closing direction.

[0032] The second pivot shafts 32 project from both side surfaces of connecting pieces 3 b which are formed in substantially rectangular block shapes along transverse direction both side end portions of the reverse surface of the cover 3. The slide shafts 33 project from one side surface of the corresponding connecting piece 3 b, and are formed integrally with the cover 3.

[0033] The arm member 51 is structured by the following being formed integrally: the first pivot shaft 52 which is shaped as a cylinder having a short axis, a pair of nipping pieces 53 which project outwardly in plate shapes from vicinities of both axial direction end portions of the first pivot shaft 52, an insert-through hole 53 a formed at a position at which the nipping pieces 53 oppose one another, a guide hole 53 b formed in a circular-arc shape in one of the nipping pieces 53 along the locus of pivoting of the slide shaft 33 which pivoting accompanies the pivoting movement of the cover 3 around the second pivot shafts 32, and an abutment portion 54 projecting in a block shape from the outer peripheral surface of the first pivot shaft 52.

[0034] The pivot holes 11 are formed at positions at which side walls, which form arm receiving chambers 1 b, oppose one another. The arm receiving chambers 1 b are provided at both sides of a cup receiving chamber 1 a, of the receptacle main body 1, which receives a receptacle such as a cup or the like. The arm members 51 received in the arm receiving chambers 1 b are pivotally supported in the pivot holes 11.

[0035] The mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover formed as follows. The second pivot shafts 32 and slide shafts 33 provided at the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 are inserted through the insert-through holes 53 a and guide holes 53 b of the arm members 51. The first pivot shafts 52 of the arm members 51 are inserted through the pivot holes 11 of the arm receiving chambers 1 b, and the support shafts 31 of the cover 3 are inserted into the support shaft guide holes 13 of the receptacle main body 1. The torsion springs s are attached by pivotally supporting ones of ends of the torsion springs s at the projections 12 of the receptacle main body 1, and pivotally supporting the others of the ends at the support shafts 31 of the cover 3.

[0036] In this case, the cover 3 pivots around the second pivot shafts 32 with respect to the arm members 51, and the slide shafts 33 accordingly move within the guide holes 53 b. Further, the arm members 51 pivot around the first pivot shafts 52 with respect to the receptacle main body 1. The cover 3 is thereby supported at the receptacle main body 1 so as to be pivotable around the first and second pivot shafts 52, 32.

[0037] Operations of opening and closing the cover 3 supported at the receptacle main body 1 by using the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover structured in this way will now be described. The receptacle is set in a closed state, in which the top surface opening of the receptacle main body 1 is closed, or in an open state, in which the top surface opening is open, by fingers being placed on a finger placement portion 3 a of the cover 3 and the cover 3 being pivoted with respect to the receptacle main body 1.

[0038] In the closed state, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the support shafts 31 of the cover 3 are positioned at the upper end portions of the support shaft guide holes 13 due to the urging force of the torsion springs s (not shown in FIGS. 3A through 3E). In this way, the cover 3 is urged in the closing direction, the slide shafts 33 abut the upper ends of the guide holes 53 b, and the state in which the cover 3 closes the top surface opening of the receptacle main body 1 is maintained.

[0039] From this state, when the cover 3 is pivoted in the opening direction against the urging force of the torsion springs s, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cover 3 pivots clockwise in the figure around the second pivot shafts 32, and the slide shafts 33 accordingly move downward in the guide holes 53 b, and the support shafts 31 move downward in the support shaft guide holes 13. Then, when the cover 3 is pivoted a predetermined angle around the second pivot shafts 32 and the slide shafts 33 are positioned in vicinities of the lower ends of the guide holes 53 b, as shown in FIG. 3C, the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 and the abutment portions 54 of the arm members 51 abut. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3D, the arm members 51 pivot clockwise in the figure around the first pivot shafts 52, and the cover 3 accordingly pivots clockwise in the figure around the first pivot shafts 52. As shown in FIG. 3E, the completely open state, in which the cover 3 opens the top surface opening of the receptacle main body 1, is reached. In this case, at the time of the operations from FIG. 3D to FIG. 3E, the urging force of the torsion springs s is applied in the direction of pivoting the cover 3 in the opening direction. Due to this urging force, the cover 3 automatically pivots and the completely open state of FIG. 3E is maintained.

[0040] When the cover 3, which has been set in the completely open state in this way, is to be set in the completely closed state, the cover 3 is pivoted in the closing direction. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3D, the arm members 51 are pivoted counterclockwise in the figure around the first pivot shafts 52, and the cover 3 accordingly pivots counterclockwise in the figure around the first pivot shafts 52. Then, when the cover 3 is pivoted by a predetermined angle around the first pivot shafts 52, as shown in FIG. 3B, the abutment of the arm members 51 and the connecting pieces 3 b is cancelled. Thereafter, the slide shafts 33 move upwardly in the guide holes 53 b, and the cover 3 pivots around the second pivot shafts 52. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the slide shafts 33 are positioned at the uppermost ends of the guide holes 53 b, the pivoting operation of the cover 3 around the second pivot shafts 52 stops, and the completely closed state, in which the cover 3 closes the top surface opening of the receptacle main body 1, is reached. In this case, at the time of the operations from FIG. 3B to FIG. 3A, the urging force of the torsion springs s is applied in the direction of pivoting the cover 3 in the closing direction. Due to the urging force, the cover 3 is automatically pivoted, and the completely closed state of FIG. 3A is maintained.

[0041] In this way, because the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover opens and closes the cover 3 by using two pivot shafts which are the first and second pivot shafts 52, 32, the space required at the time of opening and closing the cover 3 can be reduced, and the space for placement of the receptacle can be made smaller.

[0042] In this case, due to the urging force of the torsion springs s, the position of the cover 3 with respect to the receptacle main body 1 in the closed state and in the open state is maintained, and rattling of the cover 3 with respect to the receptacle main body 1 can be prevented. Further, after the cover 3 is pivoted by a predetermined angle, the cover 3 is automatically pivoted to the completely open or the completely closed state by the urging force of the torsion springs s. Thus, the operations of opening and closing the cover 3 can be carried out easily.

[0043] Because the first pivot shafts 52 are formed from cylindrical bodies having short axes, the surface area of contact with the pivot holes 11 can be made large. Even in a case in which a large load is applied to the first pivot shafts 52 at the time of opening and closing the cover 3, this load is received over a wide surface area, and breakage of the first pivot shafts 52 and the pivot holes 11 can be prevented.

[0044] The state in which the abutment portions 54 of the arm members 51 and the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 abut one another is the limit of the operation of pivoting the cover 3 around the second pivot shafts 32 in the opening direction. Thus, a state in which the load, which is applied to the cover 3 at the time of pivoting the cover in the opening direction, is applied to the slide shafts 33 and the inner peripheral surfaces of the guide holes 53 b can be avoided, and breakage of the slide shafts 33 and the guide holes 53 b can be prevented.

[0045] As shown by the large arrow in FIG. 4A, in the work for assembling the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover, first, the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 are inserted between the nipping pieces 53 of the arm members 51. The connecting pieces 3 b are nipped from both side surfaces thereof by the nipping pieces 53, and the second pivot shafts 32 and the slide shafts 33 provided at the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 are inserted through the insert-through holes 53 a and the guide holes 53 b of the arm members 51. In this way, as shown in FIG. 4B, the arm members 51 are attached to the cover 3 so as to be pivotable around the second pivot shafts 32. Next, as shown by the large arrow in FIG. 4B, the arm members 51 which are pivotally attached to the cover 3 are inserted into the arm receiving chambers 1 b of the receptacle main body 1. The first pivot shafts 52 of the arm members 51 are inserted through the pivot holes 11 of the arm receiving chambers 1 b, and the support shafts 31 of the cover 3 are inserted into the support shaft guide holes 13 of the receptacle main body 1. As shown in FIG. 4C, the arm members 51 are received in the arm receiving chambers 1 b, and are attached to the receptacle main body 1 so as to be pivotable around the first pivot shafts 52. In this way, the cover 3 is supported at the receptacle main body 1 so as to be pivotable around the first and second pivot shafts 52, 32. Then, the torsion springs s are attached by pivotally supporting ones of ends of the torsion springs s at the projections 12 of the receptacle main body 1, and by pivotally supporting the other ends at the support shafts 31 of the cover 3.

[0046] The second pivot shafts 32 and the slide shafts 33 project integrally from the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3. Further, the first pivot shafts 52 project integrally from the arm members 51. Thus, there is no need to attach the second pivot shafts 32 and the slide shafts 33 to the connecting pieces 3 b, and there is no need to attach the first pivot shafts 52 to the arm members 51. The work for attaching the arm members 51 to the cover 3 and the receptacle main body 1 can be carried out easily.

[0047] The second pivot shafts 32 and the slide shafts 33 are provided at side surfaces of the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3. The insert-through holes 53 a and the guide holes 53 b are provided at the nipping pieces 53 formed at the arm members 51. The first pivot shafts 52 are provided at the arm members 51, and the pivot holes 11 are provided at the pair of wall portions of the arm receiving chambers 1 b of the receptacle main body 1. Thus, by the simple operations of inserting the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 between the nipping pieces 53 of the arm members 51 and inserting the arm members 51 between the pair of wall portions of the arm receiving chambers 1 b of the receptacle main body, the cover 3 can be attached to the receptacle main body 1 so as to be able to pivot around the first and second pivot shafts 52, 32. Accordingly, the work for attaching the cover 3 to the receptacle main body 1 can be carried out easily. In particular, in the case of a receptacle which is to be set at a place at which the setting work is difficult, such as at the center console or the like in a vehicle, after the arm members 51 are attached in advance to the cover 3, the arm members 51 can be attached to the receptacle main body 1, and the work for setting the receptacle can be carried out easily.

[0048] The mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate changes may be made provided that they fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, there is no need to provide the torsion springs s which are pivotally supported at the support shafts 31 of the cover 3 and the projections 12 of the receptacle main body 1, provided that the completely open and completely closed states of the cover 3 with respect to the receptacle main body 1 can be maintained and that there is no need to urge the operation of the cover 3 pivoting by the predetermined angle or more. In this case, there is the concern that the cover may rattle with respect to the receptacle main body 1, and there is the need to manually pivot the cover 3 to the completely open or the completely closed state. However, in accordance with such a structure, the number of parts forming the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover can be reduced even more, and the work for assembling the cover 3 to the receptacle main body 1 can be facilitated.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, the first pivot shafts 52, which pivotally support the arm members 51 to the receptacle main body 1, are formed as cylinders having short axes. However, the first pivot shafts 52 may be formed as small-diameter rods in a case in which the load applied to the first pivot shafts 52 at the time of pivoting the cover 3 is low or in a case in which the first pivot shafts 52 are formed from a strong material.

[0050] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the state in which the abutment portions 54 of the arm members 51 and the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 abut one another is the limit of pivoting of the cover 3 in the opening direction around the second pivot shafts 32. However, it is not absolutely necessary to provide such a structure in a case in which the operational load applied at the time of pivoting of the cover 3 is low, or in a case in which the slide shafts 33 and the guide holes 53 b are formed from strong materials.

[0051] In the embodiment described above, in order to move the center of pivoting of the cover 3 from the first pivot shafts 52 to the second pivot shafts 32 and to pivot the cover 3 along a predetermined locus, the support shaft guide holes 13 are formed in both side surfaces of the receptacle main body 1, and the support shafts 31 are formed at the cover 3. However, in the mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover of the present invention, the center of pivoting of the cover 3 is moved from the second pivot shafts 32 to the first pivot shafts 52 due to the abutment portions 54 of the arm members 51 and the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3 abutting. Thus, it is not absolutely necessary to provide the support shaft guide holes 13 and the support shafts 31.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the second pivot shafts 32 and the slide shafts 33 are provided at the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3, and the insert-through holes 53 a and the guide holes 53 b are provided at the nipping pieces 53 of the arm members 51. However, the second pivot shafts 32 and the slide shafts 33 may be provided at the nipping pieces 53 of the arm members 51, and the insert-through holes 53 a and the guide holes 53 b may be provided at the connecting pieces 3 b of the cover 3. Further, the first pivot shafts 52 may be provided at both side walls of the arm receiving chambers 1 b, and the pivot holes 11 may be provided in the arm members 51. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In a two-shaft pivotal mechanism for supporting a cover on a receptacle for movement between an open position and a closed position, the mechanism including a pivoting member pivotally supported on the receptacle, the cover being pivotally supported on the pivoting member, the pivoting member and the cover being pivoted around a first pivot shaft connecting the pivoting member and the receptacle, the cover being pivoted with respect to the pivoting member around a second pivot shaft pivotally supported between the pivoting member and the cover, such that the cover may be opened and closed, the improvement wherein the second pivot shaft projects integrally from one of the pivoting member and a connecting piece on the cover, an attachment hole which supports the second pivot shaft formed in another of the pivoting member and the connecting piece, said pivoting member and said connecting piece being pivotally connected, pivot limiting means being provided between said connecting piece and said pivoting member, said pivot limiting means limiting pivotal operation therebetween to a predetermined angular range, the first pivot shaft projecting integrally from one of the pivoting member and the receptacle, and an attachment hole supporting the first pivot shaft, said attachment hole being formed in another of the pivoting member and the receptacle wherein the pivoting member and the receptacle being pivotally connected.
 2. A mechanism for supporting a cover according to claim 1, wherein said pivot limiting means comprises a portion of the cover and a portion of the pivoting member positioned to abut one another to thereby limit pivotal movement around the second pivot shaft to a predetermined angular range.
 3. A mechanism for supporting a cover according to claim 1, wherein one of said second pivot shaft and said attachment hole is provided on both side surfaces of the connecting piece of the cover, and the other of said second pivot shaft and said attachment hole is provided on a pair of plate-shaped bodies formed on said pivoting member, and one of said first pivot shaft and said attachment hole being provided on said pivoting member, and the other of said first pivot shaft and said attachment hole being provided on a pair of wall portions formed on the receptacle.
 4. A mechanism for supporting a cover according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises urging means structured to urge pivoting operation, of a predetermined angle or more, of the cover at times of opening and closing of the cover.
 5. A mechanism for supporting a cover according to claim 1, wherein said first pivot shaft is formed from a cylindrical body having a short axis, said first pivot shaft being mounted to pivot about said short axis while an outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical body slides along an inner peripheral surface of said attachment hole.
 6. A mechanism for opening/closing and supporting a cover according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle is a storage compartment or a cup holder in a vehicle. 